The Halifax Mooseheads are one of a number of teams coming under fire from the Canadian Hockey League Players’ Association.

Mooseheads majority owner Bobby Smith confirmed Friday he’d received notification that labour action is being taken against the team as the CHLPA seeks to improve working conditions and benefits for CHL players.

“The letter was a letter from a lawyer in Halifax to the commissioner of the CHL, Dave Branch, saying that a player wasn’t getting paid the minimum wage and they were going to bring this to the attention of the Labour Board of Nova Scotia,” Smith said from his home in Arizona.

“I’ve since found out that five or six other teams in our league have received the same letter,” he added.

Smith said he’s confident the Mooseheads provide excellent conditions for their players.

“I feel we treat our players extremely well and certainly the benefits they receive add up to much, much more than they would be getting if they were getting minimum wage for the hours that they were practising, playing or travelling.”

However, he doesn’t take the current matter lightly.

“I’m concerned any time one of our players has a concern,” he said. “But we’ll deal with it when I know more.”

The CHLPA, with former NHL enforcer Georges Laraque as its public face, issued a document to the CHL, Hockey Canada and all CHL teams earlier this week criticizing the working standards for employees.

The letter discusses violations of labour, pension and employment rules.

Laraque went on record Friday that the players don’t want to go to court against the owners for a minimum wage.

“They simply want the best conditions,” he told the QMI Agency.

Derek Clark, a member of the CHLPA’s board of advisers, said Halifax is the first team targeted and won’t be the last.

“We’re going to be in each of the provinces and there is no specific reason why Halifax,” he said. “We had enough complaints on that team so we just decided to register the one. We’ll move to Quebec next week and to Ontario within a few days of that.

The CHL has issued a statement that it complies with federal and provincial laws.

“Our 60 clubs operate with the best interest of the players in mind, at all times. It is estimated the net value, or investment, for each player in the league is between $35,000-40,000 annually. This accounts for the education program, and the many other benefits provided by CHL member clubs.

“The CHL vehemently disagrees with the recent allegations made by Georges Laraque on behalf of the Canadian Hockey League Players’ Association (CHLPA). Mr. Laraque knows better than anyone the investment that we make in each of our players and our commitment to ensuring that the player’s amateur hockey experience is maximized.”

Most junior hockey players receive a small weekly allowance and live in billet homes.